Note from the Songwriter:

At first glance, t’fillin are quite strange. Try to define it in English, and it’s not much better. (Phylacteries? What does that even mean?) This little black contraption with the boxes and the straps, while weird at first glance, holds a lot of meaning. T’fillin are the words of the V’ahavta taken literally: “You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be frontlets between your eyes (Deuteronomy 6:8).” While in Temple times, t’fillin were worn all day, now they are only worn weekday mornings during prayer. T’fillin is like a locket, or a string around your finger. It is there to be a physical reminder of something important, which in the case of t’fillin, is the Exodus from Egypt. Its placement between the eyes and on the arm also reminds us to turn our mind, eyes, and actions towards being God’s partner in the world.

Lyrics:

Intro: The shema is in the siddur
and we say it before bed,
but did you know it’s in a box
I wrap up on my head?
This little black contraption
with the boxes and the straps,
is called…. t’fillin!
Now, what in the world is that?


We know that God loves us
God gave us the Torah
God gave us the Torah
its words are yours and mine
and in the v’ehavata
it says that we should teach them
it says that we should teach them
and bind them as a sign

Chorus:
Between our eyes
So that we can see like God sees
Upon our arm
To do what God would do
Between our eyes
So that we can see like God sees
Upon our arm
To do what God would do

We wear them in the morning
Shacharit on weekdays
Shacharit on weekdays
To God we say “Thank You!”
And someday when you’re older
After your Bar Mitzvah
Or after your Bat Mitzvah
then you can do it too!

Chorus
Bridge:
We remember
like a string around our finger
We remember
when we slaves in Egypt
We remember
That we are a free people
We remember, we remember we are loved!

Chorus